In a previous life – some 15 years ago – Silvie Mollekens was working in the hotel industry where she was responsible for the sales and marketing of several large hotels. However, this changed. “However, I noticed that companies were not always keen on meeting in boring meeting rooms of hotels. Hence my idea to organise meetings in a more pleasant and homely atmosphere. That’s how I started ‘Seminar at Home’. Gradually my customer portfolio grew, most of them large companies, and they all thought it was a great concept,” Silvie Mollekens explains.
A concept that met with great acclaim. “Because of the growth and also the demand for availability for larger groups, I started looking for larger locations. After starting with one location, eight years later we now work with around sixty separate venues where we can organise events from 3 to 1,500 participants, or even more.”
Initially, Silvie and her team looked for new venues themselves. “Meanwhile, it’s reversed,” states the business manager. “Apparently, we are very popular. As a result, we often get proposals from venues that spontaneously offer themselves to us. Then, of course, we check whether that location meets our conditions.” It does not necessarily have to be a private house. “A domestic setting is not necessarily a must, but an original out-of-the-box location where you can hold meetings or an inspiring event in an inspiring way. Thus, in our portfolio we have old castles, renovated farms, a monastery, industrial lofts, …”
With ‘Seminar at Home’, Silvie Mollekens not only offers separate venues. “We also provide catering or the organisation of events. We believe more than ever in the impact of a corporate event. It increases results on the shop floor, you create ambassadors, all the senses are stimulated and you really make a difference! This made us decide to invest heavily in our eventing team last year. With more than 15 years of experience, we know Eventing and Brand Activation inside out and specialise in full concept events. We always ensure that there is only one point of contact for companies, which obviously works much easier. Companies are completely unburdened as we take care of everything.”
Locations for outdoor meetings, for example, are of course also possible. “That offers a pleasant added value, by the way,” thinks Silvie. “Or why not hold walking meetings through the forest at the back of one of our locations. Then we also book a walking coach.”
Recently, you can also turn to ‘Seminar at Home’ to organise a corporate event on your own shop floor. “At the request of one of our regular customers, we tried this as a try-out. The customer was wildly enthusiastic about the whole process, the organisation and the catering. This is why we have recently started providing in-house catering on the work floor.”
Events from 3 to 1,500 people, Silvie and her team guarantee flawless organisation. “Our staff are completely at the disposal of the organising company. Personal service and exclusivity are highly appreciated by companies. If you meet in a hotel, you are often not the only company or you can bump into competitors.”
Silvie Mollekens remains ambitious with ‘Seminar at Home’. “The next step is to grow further into organising business incentives abroad. We have already organised teambuildings in Italy, France, Spain and Austria. My husband runs a travel agency and this cross-fertilisation leads to unique concepts. Meet, for example, our unforgettable business incentive ‘La Dolce Vita’. During this 2 or 3-day trip you travel with colleagues or clients to authentic Italy where gastronomy and hospitality are central. However, there are numerous possible interpretations for your business trip. A culinary dinner, a visit to a museum, an original tasting, a panoramic road trip or an unforgettable company party? We are happy to go through all aspects with the client and give the necessary advice in an open conversation. Our goal remains to generate ‘positive emotions’, because nothing is as strong as a blissful feeling around your product, company or service. And that is what I want to focus on strongly in the future with ‘Seminar at Home’,” said the business manager.
Seminarathome – an enthusiastic team with crystal clear vision
